United lost a bad tempered game by one goal at Victoria Park this afternoon. Lee Steele's goal divided the teams, but two serious injuries and a sending off for both teams made it an afternoon that United will want to forget.

Boss Darren Patterson was forced to make changes to cover for the absence of Phil Trainer in midfield and opted to play Matt Day there alongside Eddie Hutchinson. There was also a first place on the bench for youth team midfielder Aaron Posey, but within 110 seconds plans needed to change as Matt Green was forced off with a broken collarbone. It was a curious injury as he collided with the keeper, but clearly serious and those two minutes might well be the last that Green manages during his loan at The U's. Sub Yemi Odubade therefore had 87 minutes to make an impact in a game played in constant rain on a pitch that was already sodden even before kick off and conditions certainly contributed to what was to follow...

It was Eddie Anaclet who had the first shot on target of the afternoon, catching a shot with his left foot on the turn from 18 yards but sending it straight into the midriff of keeper Scott Tynan, and the same player saw a shot saved by Tynan's feet on 17 minutes after the pace of Odubade had caused chaos in the home defence.

With passes going astray, players aquaplaning as they went in for challenges and driving rain swirling around the pitch it wasn't a day for fine football, but both sides were totally committed and the element of farce as the ball sometimes bounced sometimes skidded made it a good game to watch (provided you'd found some cover to shelter under).

A goal was coming and on 37 minutes it came, almost inevitably from that man Steele. Not content with relegating The U's two years ago Steele gave Victoria the lead with a typical goal. Strike partner Akins floated across the box and played the ball in for Steele. Back to goal, Steele swivelled and drove a low shot past Turley from twelve yards for his third in four games. The swine.

United hadn't played terribly well and  were behind under Patterson for the first time and half time will have seen some harsh words in the away dressing room. Whatever was said seemed to work as within a minute United were almost on level terms as Barnes flicked on and Odubade raced away, only for Tynan to palm his shot to safety, with Day driving the loose ball a foot the wrong side of the left hand post. If that chance had gone in things might have been different, but instead the game became bogged down as conditions took over

The hard working Barnes was replaced by Joel Ledgister ten minutes into the second half, with Gary Twigg switching to centre forward alongside Odubade and Ledgister on the right wing, with Anaclet on the left. With the pitch soaking up yet more water, a real Victoria sponge, any semblance of a passing game had long since gone and both sides were playing to the conditions, relying on long balls and playing the percentage game.

Ref Harwood was allowing the game to flow, permitting a number of challenges which would have been punished in better conditions but on 69 minutes the game erupted. Anaclet challenged on the touch line and went down in agony. Players from both sides rushed in, Jeannin and Richard Battersby seemed to square up, and in the melee the ref sent them both off, Jeannin for a second yellow. While peace was slowly breaking out Anaclet was joining Green in the hospital with a dislocated shoulder. Jeannin will miss the Tonbridge game and Anaclet and Green will miss the game at Southend on Tuesday.

Meanwhile back at the game, the ten boys in blue kept pushing the ten green battlers back but without getting a clear sight of Tynan's goal. An Odubade cross was tipped on to the bar by Tynan but there was to be no way back as United slipped to their first defeat under Darren Patterson. They battled for all they were worth, but the U's just couldn't find  a way to get through in the rain.  Worse, there will have to be some serious reshuffling to cover for the suspensions and injuries which are mounting.

Report: Chris Williams

Att: 911

Stats by PA Sports

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